Miami & South Beach Shopping/Trend Research Report, first for 2011!!!!!

Hello everyone, excited to finally post my first shopping and trend report for the 2011 fashion season. Started off by flying down to Miami last week to see what was going on for the Winter to Spring transition...and although a little early for the Spring season still a good read to see what's to come for men's fashion and footwear. Read my below notes/comments and preview the collections featuring some of Miami's and South Beach's latest trends.

Places visited: Dadeland Mall, Boca Raton Mall, Island Water Sports, Aventura Mall and South Beach's Collins Ave., Lincoln Ave.


R.T.W. - ready to wear on the racks and on the streets:
-2 biggest looks
A.washed/sun faded cotton shirts and plaids
B. brightly colored swim shorts, cotton tees and dress shirts on shelves (orange, green, blue)
- grey, charcoal, blue, navy sea foam heathered shirts, long sleeves
- dark jeans everywhere and also more faded/washed/distressed looking jeans (grey strong presence)
- on the streets (south beach etc. collared shirts, jeans and or plaid shorts everywhere)
- still plenty of ed hardy, fight club, English Heraldry on the aggressive type male…streets only
- less and less in your face brightly colored graphics on tees, shorts…more stripes or plain then anything
- some camo and faded cargo shorts on racks
- introduction of corduroy cut off shorts transitioning from the pants into spring
- “Resort Collection” was scene at several major retailers…khaki shorts, linen tops, white cotton belts,
boat shoes

Sandals/Shoes:
- biggest sandal look on feet were by far Havaianas, saw more of these on feet from the malls to the
beach then any other construction
- secondly were built up (cup mold) athletic type sandals, Reef, Reef, Reef
- very little flat cut eva, leather sock type sandals either shown or on feet except American Eagle and
A&F
- many athletic type shoes, running, joggers, new and retro types but more new styles then anything
- vulcanized cap toes (converse, nike, adidas) still on plenty of young men and women everywhere
- key colors in all atheletic retailers was black, red, grey and white, still plenty of bright fluorescent
Greens, oranges and blues
- boatshoes (sebego and sperry Lincoln Ave.) dominated the shelves at the more mature retailer with
driving mocs having a large presence as well at all malls
- LaCoste seemed to be the brand that had a front shelf in a majority of retailers showing fusion athletics types and thin vulcanized oxfords
- seeing more and more shell molds from Madden, Nike, Lacoste, True Religion, Nordstrom’s
1901 Pl brand
- the unconstructed Reef moc toe vulc shoe at Island water sports was and is blowing out according to
the young salesmen there, key color by far was the black upper w/ grey cup sock new colors arrived
that day in cream, tan and navy

Notes:
Newest look and trend is the “Fusion Athletic” upper on a thin cup mold or EVA midsole. Skechers, Diesel. Madden, LaCoste. Definitely a direction that will grow stronger as the spring/summer
season picks up. Wellness RTB etc. is still in Skechers, DSW, and seems to still have legs, did not see one person wearing any. Crocs is introducing their version of the converse cap toe. Salesmen at the Lincoln Ave. store sold me hard on the idea that they look exactly like the chuck but are far superior in comfortand that I should def. buy a pr., no thanks. Looks similar but not exactly like…

All in all a good trip seeing how most of the country had snow last week, can't complain in 80 degree weather! Havaianas and built up athletic type sandals ruled the beach while cap toe sneakers take the lead in front of traditional slip on/twin gores.

Enjoy the read and look for my next review at the world famous MAGIC Apparel and Accessories show in Las Vegas on Feb. 14th! Until then...